Chris Hanburger

Lore & Background

Hanburger was born on August 13, 1941, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His father was a colonel in the U.S. Army. He attended Hampton High School in Hampton, Virginia, where he was an All-State end. Hanburger enlisted in the Army eleven days after finishing high school, as he did not see himself going to college and did not wish to move to Alaska where his father had been re-stationed. He served two years. He had planned to pursue a career as an officer, but a serious eye-socket injury during a flag football game derailed that plan. After his military service, Hanburger accepted a scholarship from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he played college football for the Tar Heels, under coach Jim Hickey. From 1962 through 1964, Hanburger played on offense at center, and on defense as a middle linebacker where he called defensive signals. He was All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at center as both a junior and senior. He was voted the Tar Heels top all-time center. In 1963, the Tar Heels won the Gator Bowl 35–0 over Air Force, and a shared ACC Championship with North Carolina State. From 1962 to 1964 as a center, Hanburger blocked for running back Ken Willard who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards over those three years, and would go on to a ten-year career in the NFL after being taken with the second overall pick in the 1965 NFL draft. In 1963, he received the James H. Tatum Memorial Award from the University of North Carolina's student legislature, being noted as an outstanding defender and a team leader. Hanburger was selected by the Redskins in the 18th round (245th overall) of the 1965 NFL draft. During his first training camp, he was encouraged by future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff, that he could make the team. By the sixth game of his rookie season he became a starter, and started four other games that year. By the following year, he was a full-time starter. He played the 1969 season under coaching legend Vince Lombardi, who died before the following season began. Future Hall of Fame coach George Allen took over in 1971 and led the team, and Hanburger, through 1977. As a professional, he was considered one of the best outside linebackers of his era and was elected to the Pro Bowl nine times during his career, the most in Washington Redskin history.

Reader's Guide

Chris Hanburger was a linebacker for the Washington Redskins from 1965 to 1978. He was selected in the 18th round (245th overall) of the 1965 NFL draft. He earned nine Pro Bowl selections, the most in Washington Redskin history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Did You Know?

• He called defensive signals for the Redskins from 1973 to 1977.
• Hanburger was a four-time first-team All-Pro.